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About Disaster SNAP

The Disaster SNAP Program (D-SNAP) provides replacement benefits for regular food stamp recipients who lose food in a disaster and extends benefits to many households which would not ordinarily be eligible but suddenly need food assistance. The benefits are delivered via Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) cards, which can expedite and mainstream the relief process for victims.

D-SNAP has been deemed effective and responsive in quickly delivering nutrition assistance to people recovering from hurricanes, tornadoes, and other disasters. Indeed in 2005, in a report from President Bush’s White House on government action in the aftermath of Hurricanes Katrina, Rita and Wilma, the D-SNAP program was singled out for its responsiveness and effectiveness.

 

FRAC’s Ten Key Ways SNAP Advocates Can Help Low-Income People in a Disaster

  1. Develop a constructive relationship with your state and local food stamp offices before a disaster strikes.
  2. Ask your state about its disaster plans, or bring up disaster readiness at regular meetings or working group sessions.
  3. Encourage your state to apply to USDA as quickly as possible for D-SNAP when a disaster occurs, and monitor its progress during the application process.
  4. Encourage your state to ask for automatic replacement of benefits for existing recipients, broad eligibility criteria for new recipients, and food loss as a sufficient criterion for assistance.
  5. Enlist the help of the local food bank community and a broad range of other non-profit organizations to promote D-SNAP.
  6. Press local elected officials, the media, and FEMA to mention D-SNAP specifically, not just assistance in general.
  7. Use all of your normal outreach channels and methods to inform people about D-SNAP, and think of new channels and methods as the disaster situation requires.
  8. Advocate for clients who fall through the cracks of the disaster relief efforts.
  9. Work with your state to develop a plan to help D-SNAP recipients who might be eligible for regular SNAP to apply for benefits.
  10. When the disaster effort is over, recognize your state for what it did well and make constructive suggestions for future disaster relief efforts.